HC Deb 13 July 1953 vol 517 cc1687-9
3. Mr. Woodburn

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that there is considerable unused capacity in the Stirlingshire and Falkirk foundry industry for the production of fuel-saving grates, stoves and other space-heating appliances; and whether he will arrange to accelerate the campaign, urging that a programme of replacing wasteful heating arrangements in the offices of central and local government and in households throughout the country.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

Yes, Sir, and I said last week that the campaign is being constantly extended.

Mr. Woodburn

Will the right hon. Gentleman get in touch with the Ministers in both countries who deal with housing and see if they can speed up the campaign to make use of these fuel-saving appliances? Does he realise that this is wasted capacity in a subject in which he must have a great interest?

Mr. Lloyd

Yes, Sir, we are getting in touch with the Scottish authorities, and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government for England and Wales are sending out a circular to local authorities.

4. Mr. Hoy

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why he proposes to set up a professional committee to supersede the present Scottish Fuel Efficiency Committee; what will be the cost; and what work it will do that at present is not being done by the Scottish Fuel Efficiency Committee.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

The hon. Member is misinformed and I would ask him to consult the Pilkington Report, of which I have placed copies in the Library, and the statement I made in the House on 22nd June.

Mr. Hoy

Arising from that reply, can we then take it that the Minister has no intention of replacing the present Fuel Efficiency Committee in Scotland by another Committee?

Mr. Lloyd

I think the hon. Gentleman has confused the proposal with regard to the Fuel Efficiency Organisation with the question of advisory committees, which is quite separate.

Mr. Hoy

On the contrary, is it not a fact that the Scottish Fuel Efficiency Committee, of which the chairman is Sir Patrick Dollan, was notified that there would be changes? Is the Minister now saying that it is not the intention of his Department to make any changes in the Committee?

Mr. Lloyd

There will, of course, be changes in the organisation for fuel efficiency carried out by the Ministry and there is a proposal for a new non-profit making company, but the position of the advisory councils and committees is quite separate and I have not made a decision on that matter.

Mr. Woodburn

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of some apprehension in Scotland that a new body is to be established which will cost a lot of money but will not do anything more than is being done by the advisory committee, which is also an executive committee?

Mr. Lloyd

The duties of the committee are advisory and not executive, and I hope the right hon. Gentleman will allay those anxieties.

8. Mr. Palmer

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in his financial arrangement for the establishment of the independent Fuel Efficiency Advisory Company recommended by the Pilkington Committee, he will make provision for a levy on privately owned industry to supplement the sums proposed to be found by the publicly owned coal, electricity and gas industries.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

I have no powers to impose a levy and I prefer to rely on fees and voluntary contributions.

Mr. Palmer

Is it not most undesirable from the point of view of good public policy that publicly owned industries should be used to subsidise privately owned industries in this way, since the whole of industry generally is interested in fuel efficiency, and did not the Ridley Report suggest that a levy should be used as the method of financing an organisation of this kind?

Mr. Lloyd

That suggestion has been heard, but, of course, it is in the interests of the nationalised industries to secure some decrease of demand since none of them at the present is in a position to guarantee full supplies during the whole year.

Mr. A. J. Irvine

Does not that answer by the Minister reveal an extraordinary state of affairs? Is it the Minister's argument that the fact that it is administratively comparatively easy to collect funds out of publicly owned industries is to be regarded as justifying this subsidising of private industry from public funds?

Mr. Lloyd

No, Sir.

19. Mr. Noel-Baker

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why he disregarded the recommendation of the Ridley Committee that his Department's fuel efficiency service should be maintained and should continue to give advice to fuel efficiency in industry.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

I wish to avoid wasteful duplication between the Ministry's services and those of the new Fuel Efficiency Company.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Did not the Ridley Report make it quite clear that there would, firstly, be no wasteful duplication and, secondly, that it would be extremely rash to abolish this service which is comparatively new and which has done such splendid work in the last few years?

Mr. Lloyd

I agree that it has done good work, but we have decided that the best vehicle for this is the new fuel efficiency non-profit-making company.